Jennifer O'Connell: There was no collusion in the failure to stop Bill Kenneally. There didn’t have to be

Jennifer O'Connell, writing for The Irish Times, asserts that the failure to stop Bill Kenneally was not a result of any explicit collusion. Instead, she argues that the powerful social currencies of shame and status were the primary factors at play during that era. Kenneally, possessing both these currencies, was effectively shielded from accountability.

O'Connell contends that Kenneally's influence was so significant that it overshadowed any potential for formal or informal agreements to curb his actions. His standing within society meant that the fear of social repercussions and the inherent shame associated with challenging him were more potent than any organized effort.

The article suggests that societal norms and the perceived consequences of social ostracization were the true mechanisms that either enabled or failed to prevent Kenneally's actions. The piece implies a critique of a society where social standing could override the need for justice or intervention.

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Shame and social status were the powerful currencies of the time, and Kenneally had both on his side.